KazKosmos and RosKosmos agree on developing cooperation program before 2030

KazKosmos and RosKosmos, national space agencies of Kazakhstan and Russia, have agreed on developing a program of further cooperation to 2030, including within joint projects at Kazakhstan-based Baikonur cosmodrome, Tengrinews reports, citing KazKosmos. The agreement was reached on a short visit of Mr. Oleg Ostapenko, Head of RosKosmos, to Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital city, November 26. “In particular, the two sides dwelt on launching a KazSat-3 communications satellite in 2014. They also broached the subject of launching KazEoSat-1, a remote sensing satellite, in 2014”, the statement reads. Baikonur is closer to the Equator than other launch sites – a situation that facilitates geostationary orbit or orbits less inclined to reach the International Space Station (ISS). This privileged geographic placement enables the launch of more significant payloads. The cosmodrome has been rented out since 1994. Annual rent stands at $115 million. The town accommodates over 70 000 people, with 37% being Russia’s citizens. About 4 000 Russia’s citizens are here almost permanently on business trips to facilitate space launches. The town budget receives over 1 billion roubles a year from the Russian federal budget. Russia’s Roskosmos Federal Space Agency spent over $33.3 million in 2012 to maintain infrastructure and space facilities at the Kazakhstan-based Baikonur cosmodrome, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported February 1, 2013, citing Yuzhny Space Center Evgeniy Anissimov as saying.